By Aisha Gambo
The Kaduna South Local Government Council has inaugurated a digital governance initiative to promote accountability, transparency and efficient public service delivery.
The state deputy governor, Hadiza Balarabe, who inaugurated the scheme on Thursday, said that it aligned with Gov. Uba Sani’s digital governance agenda, aimed at promoting transparent, inclusive and people-centred governance.
The theme of the initiative is: “Navigating the future: Driving Inclusive Governance through Digital Innovation.”
The event featured the unveiling of the council’s official logo, new website and administration scorecard.
Balarabe said that technology should improve citizens’ access to information and public services rather than serve as a ceremonial achievement.
“A digital government should not merely put information online, it should put power back into the hands of the people,” she said.
Balarabe urged the council to keep the portal updated to enable residents to monitor projects, access opportunities and engage the government.
Describing the administration scorecard as a contract of trust between government and the people, Balarabe stressed that government should not fear accountability because citizens have the right to know what has been achieved with public resources.
The Council Chairman, Rayyan Hussein, said that the initiative reflected his commitment to technology-driven governance and greater citizen participation.
Hussein said that the council conducted a baseline assessment after assuming office to identify gaps in health, education, security, economy and the public administration.
He said that the study indicated action plans and reforms, which had produced measurable results across critical sectors.
“We did not guess what to do. We assessed the challenges, developed action plans and today we are reporting verifiable progress,” he said.
Hussein said the council introduced digital certification of indigene with QR code verification, an official website, professional email system and secured cloud storage.
According to Hussein, Kaduna South is the first local government in the North-West, and the third nationally to join the Open Government Partnership.
The council, he said, introduced live dashboards for primary healthcare centres to improve accountability and service delivery.
The chairman said the administration introduced a 70 per cent subsidy on medical bills in primary healthcare centres and enrolled 1,000 residents into Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA).
Hussein said that disfributed rehabilitated health facilities, distributed 1,000 maternity kits, solar power, laboratory equipment and essential medicines.
He said that the teacher-to-student ratio improved from one to 90 pupils to one to 40 through recruitment and deployment initiatives, and over 1,000 students sponsored for JAMB and NECO examinations, while schools benefited from infrastructure upgrades and learning materials.
Hussein the council strengthened security through enactment of new by-laws, improved collaboration with security agencies and establishment of special protection outposts.
The council, he said, supported farmers, empowered women and youths, and expanded access to clean water through solar-powered boreholes.
Heurged the residents to use the newly launched web portal and other digital platforms to access information and provide feedback. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Jacinta Nwachukwu/Yakubu Uba